Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP BELG 07’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by small decorative type inflorescences, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 49 days of short day length, dark lilac ray florets, free branching habit, and a consistent natural season flowering habit during the first week of September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination: ‘PPP BELG 07’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘PPP BELG 07’ is a product of a cross between the maleparent ‘GEDI ONE GAL’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,807) and the female parent‘Emily’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,754). The new cultivar was discovered andselected by Dirk Pieters in September of 2001 in Oostnieuwkerke,Belgium.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PPP BELG 07’ by terminalcuttings was performed in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium and Oxnard, Calif.,and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stableand reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PPP BELG 07’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PPP BELG 07.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘PPP BELG 07’ as a new and distinctChrysanthemum cultivar:

-   -   1. Small, dark lilac, decorative-type inflorescences;    -   2. Consistent natural season flowering habit during the first        week of September;    -   3. Free branching habit; and    -   4. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming        consistently after 49 days of short day length.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP BELG 07’ are similar to plants of themale parent variety, ‘GEDI ONE GAL’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP BELG 07’ areshorter. Also, the new cultivar ‘PPP BELG 07’ has a smallerinflorescence diameter and longer inflorescence longevity. Additionally,the ray florets of ‘PPP BELG 07’ are a different color than the maleparent. Finally, ‘PPP BELG 07’ naturally blooms three to four weeksearlier than the male parent ‘GEDI ONE GAL.’

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP BELG 07’ are similar to plants of thefemale parent variety, ‘Emily’ in most horticultural characteristics,however plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP BELG 07’ are shorter but have awider plant spread. Also, the new cultivar ‘PPP BELG 07’ has a smallerinflorescence diameter. Additionally, the ray florets of ‘PPP BELG 07’are a different color than the female parent. Finally, ‘PPP BELG 07’naturally blooms one week later than the female parent ‘Emily.’

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘GEDI TWO PAD’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 14,501), ‘PPP BELG 07’ is shorter and wider.Additionally, the new variety ‘PPP BELG 07’ has a smaller inflorescencediameter and darker purple ray florets. Further, the new variety ‘PPPBELG 07’ has more ray florets per inflorescence. Finally, ‘PPP BELG 07’has longer inflorescence longevity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of‘PPP BELG 07’ grown in a 2 gallon container. One cutting was used in thepot, planted mid May and grown under outdoor field conditions. Thecolors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘PPP BELG 07’ plants grown in Oxnard, VenturaCounty, Calif., during the months of May through October 2006. Thegrowing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘PPP BELG 07.’-   Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial.-   Height: Approximately 21.5 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 40 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Free Branching.-   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 16 cm.-   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 20.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 138 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.        -   Average length.—Approximately 3 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147A.            Young foliage under side: Near Green 137D. Mature foliage            upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage under            side: Near Green 137C.        -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:            Near Green 138A. Venation color under side: Near Green 138C.-   Petiole:    -   -   Average length.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Color.—Near Green 138A.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than            13.5 hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length            required to induce and develop blooms.        -   Inflorescence form.—Decorative.        -   Natural flowering season.—Approximately first week in            September.        -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately            23.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 2.9 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1.1 cm.        -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 28 to 34            days.        -   Persistence.—Persistent.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—270.        -   Shape.—Obelliptic.        -   Aspect.—Flat.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Length.'Approximately 1.1 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Red-Purple 61A.            Upper surface at maturity: Near Red-Purple 70A. Upper            surface at fading: Near Purple 75C. Under surface at first            opening: Near Red-Purple 71A. Under surface at maturity:            Near Red-Purple 74C. Under surface at fading: Near Purple            78C.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 3.        -   Shape.—Cylindric.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Average length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—At first opening: Near Yellow-Green 154C. At            maturity: Near Yellow 13A. At fading: Near Yellow 13A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 3.8 cm. At            lateral end (longest): Approximately 4.6 cm.        -   Angle to stem.—Acute.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Color.—Near Green 138B.        -   Habit.—Upright.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent.-   Inflorescence bud:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Form.—Globular.        -   Color.—Near Red-Purple 71A.-   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):    -   -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.        -   Number.—Approximately 27.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Upper side. Near Green 138A. Under side: Near Green            138C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—2 branched.        -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 13A.        -   Style color.—Near Green-Yellow 1C.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Stamens.—Absent.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.        -   Stigma shape.—Cylindric.        -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 13A.        -   Style length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Style color.—Near Green-Yellow 1C.        -   Number of stamens per floret.—Approximately 5.        -   Anther shape.—Tubular.        -   Anther color.—Near Yellow 13A.        -   Pollen color.—No pollen detected.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Flowering plants are hardy to low    temperatures about −2° C. Non-flowering plants are hardy in the    approximate range of 3° C. to −6° C., depending upon duration of    cold and amount of moisture in the soil. With adequate water plants    are hardy to a high temperature of 45° C.-   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or    observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed    production has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP BELG07’ as herein illustrated and described.